About Our Library

 

Information Literacy Standards

1. The student responsibly selects resources for personal reading and growth.
To meet this standard, the student will:

• recognize literary awards (Caldecott, Newbery and others)
• distinguish between fiction and nonfiction " recognize other various forms of literature
• distinguish between all literary genres
• realize there are and locate these various areas in the library collection
• follows expected library behavior and circulation policies

2. The student constructs strategies for locating information.
To meet this standard, the student will:

• understand the concept of the library database as an index
• identify types of information needed and prioritize them: fiction and nonfiction
• identify subject headings and key words and know differences
• learn search strategies for author, title, subject, series
• use guide words for locating information in print resources
• learn search strategies for the internet and what it offers including Boolean searching

3. The student locates and accesses information.
To meet this standard, the student will:

• understand the concept of library and its organization and layout
• recognize a variety of systems for organizing information resources o
  • recognize that a book has spine and purpose as a location label
  • recognize information on the title page, including copyright
  • recognize all parts of a books, their purposes and use
  • locate library materials from the records in library database
  • distinguish between print and electronic reference sources
  • distinguish between and use various print reference sources
  • distinguish between and use various internet search engines

4. The student evaluates and extracts information responsibly and ethically.
To meet this standard, the student will:

• use strategies to evaluate the usefulness of the information, review information needed, and adjust search strategies if needed
• identify and select specialized reference materials when relevant
• evaluate online resources, web sites according to access, design and content
  • distinguish between fact and opinion
  • recognize possible bias in print and electronic sources
  • understand the significance of dated versus current information
• follow ethical use of information and information technology
• follow proper citation and acknowledgement
• follow fair use and any computer and internet agreement policies

 

Statistical Data About Our Library

• Our Library Collection consists of over 20,000 volumes
• 1000 patrons use the library weekly
• 21 class sessions, K through 6 are scheduled weekly
• Each lunch hour is utilized for student study time and homework lab for 7th and 8th graders
• Spontaneous drop-ins by students occur all day, before, during and after school
• Weekly circulation of books and other materials is approximately 600 and growing
• Additional patrons are served on a regular basis, such as:
  • In Touch with Art group
  • Parents and younger siblings
  • Montessori pre-school students
• The physical space of the Library and its annex, the Multipurpose Room, are often used by groups other than classes, each in some form requiring staff attention:
  • School Commission
  • Parent Club
  • Catholic Librarians Group
  • Speech
  • Chess Club
  • Assorted student, parent and staff groups

Our Library Management Activities

• we continuously re-examine and redefine the interrelationship between school curriculum needs and collection and automation development
• our collection is being culled to achieve a balanced expansion of holdings
• the library skills curriculum, which now includes electronic information retrieval, is being revised and adapted to the academic needs and abilities of the students
• we will examine what direction further automation should take to dovetail optimally with curriculum needs and projections, and projected availability of funds
• policies, rules and procedures, and goals are continuously re-evaluated and updated.

Our Strategy to Accomplish Our Goals

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